11 months already?

Well, I broke the news to Kate that, as of tomorrow morning, there will be yet another Princess Kate. 

I'm quite sure that she simply doesn't care.  I think she knows that she'll always be my favorite princess. 

But I'm not gonna lie, I would like love to watch the 4 am (our time) ceremony.  However, I like love watching the back of my eyelids a little more.  I think it's crazy how, on the news, they've been interviewing people who have just packed up and headed to London for the royal wedding, just because they "thought it'd be fun."  Is that crazy or what?  Who does that?  Apparently their fun and my fun do not share the same budget.

Plus, I know that there will be crazy amounts of media coverage and I'll be able to soak it all in when I wake up...which will probably be around 5 am because my man usually wants a bottle around that time.  Hamp, not Matt, just in case you got confused. I have two men, remember?


I will tell you though, that I am a big fan of Kate Middleton.  Not that I could even list 5 facts about her (because I couldn't), but that's neither here nor there.  I like the idea of liking Kate.  And she's got great style that appears effortless.  And since I'm sitting here in an old t-shirt and running shorts with my hair in a pony (along with an unidentified number of bobby pins holding back my strays), it appears Effortless and I are the best of friends.  Only, my effortless is way less attractive than hers.  Dang.  I bet M to the Izz-A wishes Effortless and I would have a falling out and wouldn't be quite so chummy.  Then, maybe Effort and I could get a jump start on a beautiful friendship.


And while I'm being all open-bookish and stuff about who I'm a fan of, I'll also tell you that I whole-heartedly would love to go to the Taylor Swift concert that's coming to my area in the fall.  Because Claude knows I live vicariously through every curled tendril on that girl's head. 


Okay I'm getting carried away,  let's get to the heart of this post... 

Hamp is now 11 months old.  And now I wanna cry.  I cannot, I repeat, CANNOT, believe he's gonna be 1 year old next month.  We want him to stay 'yittle'.  So now I'm planning his first birthday party and while planning parties is fun, I can't help but think of his little newborn-self staring up at me when I first held him in the hospital.  Where did the time go?

Shoes are overrated.

3 egg hunts later, it's still all about our Risen Savior

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Romans 8:1     (Refreshing, isn't it?)

"...that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve."

1 Corinthians 15: 3-5 

 

In love "he predestined us for adoption to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to his riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in heaven and things on earth."

Ephesians 1:5-10

He has risen indeed.  Thanks be to God.

Our Easter week was a busy one but thankfully it was filled with lots of family time.  But (isn't there always a but?) if I see one more shred of artificial grass on the floor, I may just scream.  Loud.  Just when I think I've gotten all of it up, I catch a piece staring at me out of the corner of my eye.  Seriously.  Staring at me.



Easter party at preschool:

Lyndi and Kate

singing their Easter songs

Coloring eggs:

Church Easter party:

 special friends

Easter Sunday:

The obligatory family Easter pic

cousins

Anna and Hamp

Hamp's first beach trip:

Sara Gale and Kate

eating sand

sweet moments

With each year that passes, I feel more blessed...beyond my deserving.  I'm not worthy.  But I'm so thankful that God's sees me differently.  He doesn't need me, but he wants me. 

Something I'm starting to realize is that the same grace that saved me is the same grace that will get me through the mistakes of my daily life.  (One of Furtick's blog post really brought this to my attention: see more here.)


I'm so thankful for the grace that our sweet Lord and Savior has given to those who believe.



Hope everyone had a great Easter!

And this will forever be known as the day that the kite and I became friends

You know how sometimes things seem more fun in concept, rather than actually doing them?  Kind of like the idea or thought of any one particular activity is the only fun thing about it, because once you get out there and are actually involved in the event you've been talking about, you realize the only fun was in the 'talking about it' part?

Some of my personal favorites that fall into this category are:

* highschool prom - The getting ready part was fun.  The actual prom?  NOTsomuch.

* painting your bedroom - What do you mean I have to move the furniture?  Can't we just paint around it?  We have to tape off what?  Can't we just get away with putting on one coat?

* bathing suit shopping - Do I need to explain this one?

* deciding it's worth the money to go out to eat at that nice restaurant with the whole family - Do I need to explain THIS one??

* making that cake you signed up to bring entirely from scratch (when you know darn good and well that box cakes are just as good!) - Listen, I sweat more when I bake than when I go for a run or workout.  Got me?

* flying a kite - Yes, flying a kite...looks fun, sounds fun, but in reality is REALLY difficult!


Can you believe flying a kite made my list?


Well friends, that is no longer the case.


Yesterday was the day - the day that I was successful at, yes, you guessed it, flying a kite...for the first time in my life, might I add.


People fly kites in movies.  People fly kites in books.   But Hollie has never successfully flown a kite in a movie, or a book, or real life.  I remember trying it over and over many times as a kid, to no avail.  Kite day at school?  Yikes.  Suddenly not feeling well.  Or maybe that was the year that something was wrong with my kite?

Crazy to think that a childhood pastime could be so much fun as an adult, when you actually do it correctly. 

The highly sought after instructor?  Well, none other than M-to-the-Izz-A, of course!  Jake of all trades, no?


So we took to the church parking lot, kites in hand, and got nuts with it.

cousin Anna

cousin Noah

"Come on, baby.  We can do this!"

Having the time of my life with a Disney Princess kite.

best kite-flyin' partner ever